Elizabeth de Cuevas (1929–2023), known professionally as Strong-Cuevas, was an American sculptor, born in France, who spent her early life in Paris, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Florence, and New York City. After studying at Vassar, the Sorbonne, Sarah Lawrence, and Columbia, she turned to sculpture in the 1960s, studying at the Art Students League of New York with John Hovannes. She began by carving in wood and stone and later created pieces primarily in wax and plaster, which were cast in bronze or stainless steel. She also created works for fabrication in stainless steel or aluminum, as well as many drawings. Her work is emotional, psychological, meditative, and aspirational, exploring movement, positive and negative space, the inner life of the mind, and the cosmos.
Strong-Cuevas had two solo exhibitions at Guild Hall (1980 and 2012) and participated in many group shows there. Her work has been exhibited at the Southampton Arts Center, Park Avenue Armory, and Grounds for Sculpture, which holds several of her monumental works. Her work is in the permanent collections of Guild Hall, the Bruce Museum, and the Heckscher Museum of Art, among others.
Image courtesy of Deborah Carmichael